U.S. patent application number 14/247315 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for dental capsule.
This patent application is currently assigned to SDI NORTH AMERICA, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is JOSHUA JAMES CHEETHAM. Invention is credited to JOSHUA JAMES CHEETHAM.
Application Number | 20140305816 14/247315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50478724 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140305816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEETHAM; JOSHUA JAMES |
October 16, 2014 |
DENTAL CAPSULE
Abstract
A dental capsule (10) for storing a dental powder component (13)
and a liquid component (28) in separated condition in which the
powder component (13) is contained in a chamber (17) and the liquid
component (28) is contained in a pouch (18). The capsule (10)
comprises a freely movable member (36) arranged to rupture the
pouch (18) upon vibration of the capsule (10) so that the liquid
component (28) admixes with the powder component (13) to form a
dental paste (38). The compartment of the capsule has a manually
removable cap (14) to enable the dental paste (38) to be retrieved
for use.
Inventors: |
CHEETHAM; JOSHUA JAMES;
(WINDSOR, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CHEETHAM; JOSHUA JAMES |
WINDSOR |
|
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
SDI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Bensenville
IL
|
Family ID: |
50478724 |
Appl. No.: |
14/247315 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/08 20130101;
A61C 5/68 20170201; A61C 5/66 20170201 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/219 |
International
Class: |
A61C 17/00 20060101
A61C017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 12, 2013 |
AU |
2013901275 |
Claims
1. A dental capsule comprising means for storing dental powder and
liquid components in separated condition having a hollow body with
a first end and second end, wherein the powder component is
contained in a compartment of the hollow body adjacent the first
end of the capsule and the liquid component is contained in a pouch
adjacent the second end of the hollow body, the second end of the
hollow body being provided with a chamber having an open outer end
and a partially closed inner end, the chamber having mounted
therein the pouch, a restraining cup being mounted in the open end
of the chamber, the restraining cup having a closed outer end and
an open inner end, the pouch being retained in place by engagement
between the inner end of the cup and the inner end of the chamber,
the cup further containing an unrestrained member disposed between
an outer end of the cup and the pouch, the unrestrained member
being arranged to move reciprocally within the cup when the capsule
is vibrated in a vibrating mixer so as to impact against the pouch
so as to rupture the pouch at the partially closed inner end of the
chamber to enable the liquid component to admix with the powder
component to form a dental paste simultaneously with vibration
wherein the component of the hollow body adjacent the first end
thereof is provided with a presumably removable cup.
2. A dental capsule according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second ends of the hollow body are separated by an internal
circumferential flange.
3. A dental capsule according to claim 2, wherein the chamber is
inserted into the hollow body until engagement thereof with the
circumferential flange, so as to define a chamber in the hollow
body adjacent the first end thereof containing the dental powder
component.
4. A dental capsule according to claim 1, wherein the pouch
comprises a pair of opposed layers defining a volume.
5. A dental capsule according to claim 4, wherein the pouch has
edges which are sealed together and the edges are sandwiched
between the inner end of the cup together with the inner end of the
chamber.
6. A dental capsule according to claim 1, wherein the inner end of
the chamber is provided with a relatively small central
aperture.
7. A dental capsule according to claim 2, wherein the internal
circumferential flange is connected to a partition which extends
laterally across the capsule to define an inner end of the chamber
at the second end of the hollow body adjacent the first end
thereof, the partition being formed with an aperture.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a dental capsule
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is known to provide dental capsules containing dental
powder and liquid in separated condition. The powder and liquid
components are typically admixed by any convenient means and the
capsule is subsequently placed in a mixing device. In the mixing
device the components are thoroughly admixed to form a dental paste
suitable for application to a tooth for treatment thereof.
[0003] It has now been discovered that it is possible to admix the
components of a dental capsule simultaneously with vibration
thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there
is provided a dental capsule comprising means for storing dental
powder and liquid components in separated condition having a hollow
body with a first end and second end, wherein the powder component
is contained in a compartment of the hollow body adjacent the first
end of the capsule and the liquid component is contained in a pouch
adjacent the second end of the hollow body, the second end of the
hollow body being provided with a chamber having an open outer end
and a partially closed inner end, the chamber having mounted
therein the pouch, a restraining cup being mounted in the open end
of the chamber, the restraining cup having a closed outer end and
an open inner end, the pouch being retained in place by engagement
between the inner end of the cup and the inner end of the chamber,
the cup further containing an unrestrained member disposed between
an outer end of the cup and the pouch, the unrestrained member
being arranged to move reciprocally within the cup when the capsule
is vibrated in a vibrating mixer so as to impact against the pouch
so as to rupture the pouch at the partially closed inner end of the
chamber to enable the liquid component to admix with the powder
component to form a dental paste simultaneously with vibration
wherein the compartment of the hollow body adjacent the first end
thereof is provided with a manually removable cup.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a capsule in
accordance with the present invention in exploded condition;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the capsule of FIG.
1 in assembled condition;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the capsule in
activated condition;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a view of the capsule of FIG. 2 in a separated
condition after mixing has taken place;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a
further embodiment of the capsule in accordance with the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the capsule of FIG.
2 in assembled condition;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the capsule in
activated condition; and
[0013] FIG. 8 is a view of the capsule of FIG. 2 in a separated
condition after mixing has taken place.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings there is shown
a dental capsule 10, having a main body 12 and a removable cap 14,
arranged to engage with an end of the body 12.
[0015] The body 12 has an internal circumferential flange 16. The
cap 14 has an inner end 15 which engages with one side of the
flange 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The cap 14 and the adjacent end of
the body 12 form part of a chamber 17 containing a dental powder
component 13, in use as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0016] Further, a liquid containing pouch 18 is mounted within a
chamber 20. The chamber 20 has an outer open end 22 and a partially
closed inner end 24 as shown in FIG. 2 containing a relatively
small aperture 25. The chamber 20 engages with a side of the flange
16 opposite that engaged by the cap 14. The pouch 18 is mounted in
the chamber 20 as will be described.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the pouch 18 comprises a pair of opposed
layers 26 which are typically formed of film. As shown one layer 26
is flat and the other is recessed so that the pouch 18 defines a
volume 19 containing a liquid component 28. However, the volume 19
could be defined by the other layer 26 being recessed or by both
layers 26 being recessed. The volume 19 is sized so as to hold an
amount of liquid component compatible with the amount of the powder
component in the chamber 17.
[0018] Edges 27 of the layers 26 forming the pouch 18 may be
ultrasonically welded or laser welded or heat sealed together.
Thus, the edges 27 of the layers 26 are then joined together to
form a hermetic seal around the liquid containing volume 19.
[0019] The layers 26 may be made from mono, di or tri layered film.
Film with more than three layers can be used. The flat layer 26 may
be made thinner or weaker than the recessed layer 26.
[0020] The pouch 18 is retained in place initially by a restraining
cup 30 which has an open inner end 32 and a closed outer end 34 as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown the cup 30 engages with the
chamber 20. The inner end 32 of the cup 30 together with the inner
end 24 of the chamber 20 sandwiches the edges 27 of the layers 26
in the assembled condition of the capsule 10 as can been seen in
FIG. 2.
[0021] As shown, the chamber 17 is defined by the cap 14, the
flange 16 and the inner end of the chamber 20.
[0022] Further, the cup 30 contains a freely mounted or
unrestrained member 36 which is disposed in the volume between the
outer end 34 of the cup 30 and the pouch 18. The member 36 may be a
solid member which fits snugly in the cup 30. The member 36 may be
made of plastics material. The member 36 is smaller longitudinally
than the volume defined by the cup 30 and the pouch 18 and is
therefore able to move reciprocally within the cup 30 when the
capsule 10 is placed in a vibratory mixer.
[0023] In use, the capsule 10 in assembled condition is inserted in
a vibratory dental mixer of known type. As the capsule 10 is
vibrated the unrestrained member 36 is moved reciprocally in the
volume between the outer end 34 of the cup 30 and the pouch 18.
Thus, the unrestrained member 36 impacts the adjacent layer 26 of
the pouch 18 repeatedly. This causes the adjacent layer 26 to be
depressed. Further this action causes hydraulic pressure of the
liquid component 28 in the pouch 18 to be increased so that the
layer 26 of the pouch 18 adjacent the aperture 25 in the inner end
of the chamber 20 is ruptured at the aperture 25 as shown in FIG.
3. This creates a path for the liquid component 28 to contact
powder in the cap 14 for mixing in the chamber 17. Generally, a
mixing time of 5 to 15 seconds such as about 10 seconds is
sufficient for the liquid component 28 in the pouch 18 to be forced
into the chamber 17.
[0024] After mixing the cap 14 may be removed manually as shown in
FIG. 4 so that mixed dental paste 38 can be accessed.
[0025] The capsule 50 of FIGS. 5 to 8 is an embodiment which is
similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 4 and like reference numerals denote
like parts.
[0026] In the capsule 50 the flange 16 supports a partition 52
containing a central aperture 54. The partition 52 forms an inner
end of the chamber 17 and is integrally formed with the flange 16.
Further, a layer 26 of the pouch 18 is disposed adjacent the
aperture 54.
[0027] In this embodiment the pouch 18 is retained in place
initially by a retaining cup 30 which has an open inner end 32 and
a closed outer end 34. The inner end 32 of the cup 30 engages with
the partition 52 as shown in FIG. 6 and sandwiches the edges 27 of
the layers 26. In this embodiment the chamber 17 is defined by the
cap 14, the flange 16 and the partition 52.
[0028] In this embodiment, construction of the capsule is very
similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. In this case a
layer 26 of the pouch 18 adjacent the aperture 52 is ruptured as
shown in FIG. 7.
[0029] The mixed dental paste 38 in this activated capsule can be
retrieved in similar manner to that of FIGS. 1 to 4 by manually
removing the cap 14 as shown in FIG. 8.
[0030] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a
skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *